On Monday, Russia attributed an anti-Israel riot that led to the closure of an airport in Dagestan to 'external interference.' A mob stormed the airport in the capital of the southern Russian region. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated, 'It is well known and obvious that yesterday's events at Makhachkala airport are, to a large extent, the result of external interference Peskov mentioned that 'ill-wishers' utilized widely-circulated images of suffering in Gaza to agitate the predominantly Muslim region in the North Caucasus. However, he did not specify who the Kremlin believed was behind the instigation or their motivations.

Pakistan will start expelling undocumented immigrants in phases from November 1, interim Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti said on Monday. Over 20,000 illegal foreigners have left voluntarily in recent days after the deadline was set for them to leave by October 31. Bugti said provincial governments will aid the operation against illegal immigrants. He clarified that in the first phase, people without travel documents will be deported. Many of the immigrants, including around 1.7 million Afghans, have lived in Pakistan for years. Holding centers with basic facilities have been set up. The UN refugee agency criticized the decision, but Pakistan says it is compliant with international norms. The Foreign Office said legal residents are exempt and Pakistan remains committed to hosting refugees.

The Kremlin has blamed "external interference" for an anti-Israel riot on Sunday that saw hundreds storm an airport in Dagestan looking for Israeli citizens. 60 people were arrested after the mob closed the Makhachkala airport following unconfirmed reports of an incoming flight from Israel. Russia's Interior Ministry said ill-wishers had stirred up the predominantly Muslim region by using images of suffering in Gaza. President Putin was set to meet top officials to discuss "the West's attempts to use Middle East events to split Russian society," his spokesman said, without specifying who engineered the violence. Flights were diverted after the airport was shut down.

The family of Shani Louk, a 22-year-old German-Israeli woman believed abducted to Gaza during Hamas's October 7 attack, has been informed of her death. Louk's mother said she recognized her daughter in videos showing a half-naked unconscious woman with tattoos and dyed hair in the back of a truck in Gaza. Louk was reportedly taken hostage when Hamas militants attacked a rave near the Gaza border. Though Louk's body has not been returned, her family was told a skull bone vital for survival was identified. Israel's government tweeted Louk "experienced unfathomable horrors" when "tortured and paraded around Gaza." Hamas abducted Louk and over 200 others during an attack killing 1,400 Israelis. Israel's subsequent strikes have killed over 8,000 in Gaza per health officials.

Israeli tanks have advanced into the outskirts of Gaza City, witnesses reported, as Israel escalated its ground offensive against Hamas. Tanks entered the Zaytun district on the southern edge of Gaza City, cutting off the key north-south Salahedin Road. Israel warned northern Gaza residents to evacuate as it continues efforts to destroy Hamas. Since Friday, troops have stepped up clashes, killing dozens of operatives overnight, Israel said. One strike targeted a building with over 20 Hamas members inside. With over 8,000 Palestinians killed so far, Israel vows to hit hundreds more targets as tanks push deeper into Gaza City to clamp down on Hamas.

An investigation by Reporters Without Borders has concluded that a Reuters journalist killed and others wounded in southern Lebanon two weeks ago were deliberately targeted. Video journalist Issam Abdallah died when a group of reporters came under fire near the Israeli border on October 13. The initial findings show the journalists were not collateral damage, with their vehicle marked "press" targeted and shots coming from the east where Israel is located. RSF said two strikes 37-38 seconds apart precisely hit the journalists' location after a helicopter flew over. It's unlikely they were mistaken for combatants as they were openly positioned for over an hour. RSF is continuing its probe into the circumstances of the fatal strike on the journalists. (Image Courtesy: Times of Gaza)

The United Kingdom is preparing for heavy rain and flooding ahead of Storm Ciarán's arrival later this week, with flood warnings in place across England, Scotland and Wales. Ciarán is forecast to bring strong winds up to 90mph and heavy rain to southern England and Wales on Thursday. It comes after recent flooding across the UK due to persistent wet weather, saturating ground conditions and increasing flood risks. The storm will likely bring further flooding to some areas already deluged, with over 20mm of rain expected widely and up to 60mm in higher ground. Ciarán is described as a nasty storm that will continue unsettled conditions after recent evacuations and damage from flooding.

Israel's military said it struck military infrastructure inside Syria on Monday after projectiles were fired from Syria into Israeli territory overnight. The Israeli jet targeted launch sites near Daraa, per reports. This comes amid growing concerns about broader regional fallout from Israel's Gaza war with Hamas. There has been a string of attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria and increasing Hezbollah-Israel exchanges along the Lebanon border since the start of the conflict. Late Sunday, Israel said it struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon also in response to rocket fire. Cross-border clashes in the north have been near-daily since Hamas's October 7 attack that killed over 1,400 Israelis. Israel's unrelenting strikes on Gaza have killed over 8,000 Palestinians per officials. The Syria strike once again signals worries of a wider escalation.

As clashes escalate in Gaza, Israel accused Palestinian militant group Hamas of “psychological games” amid the conflict. Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris affirmed Washington has no plans to deploy troops to the inflamed region. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said over 600 targets in Gaza have been struck as Israeli ground operations expand, killing dozens of barricaded Hamas militants. Released footage displayed Israeli tanks, infantry, and bulldozers active in Gaza. One guided strike by ground forces and aircraft demolished a building housing over 20 Hamas operatives, the IDF stated. Overall, the military said more than 60 Hamas weapon depots, missile launch sites, hideouts, and other facilities have faced bombardment. The military actions and accusations highlight tensions remaining elevated between Israel and Hamas in Gaza amidst stern US warning to Israel, emphasizing the need to distinguish between Hamas militants and civilians in Gaza.

At least 8 dead and over 50 injured in shootings across the US over Halloween weekend. In Texas, 3 killed, and 3 hurt at a party after a fistfight and rifle fire. In Indianapolis, 1 was killed, 8 wounded at a large party, suspects detained. In a Kansas nightclub, 1 dead, 2 injured after gunman opened fire. In Florida, at least 2 dead, 18 hospitalized amid gunfight during Halloween events. 6 teens shot at Louisiana party. In Chicago, over 25 were injured, and 1 killed in a spate of shootings including 15 hurt at a Halloween party when denied re-entry suspect returned firing. Chicago has higher homicide rates than NYC, and LA. So far in 2023 over 15,700 Americans were killed by guns, 30,000 more injured including 1421 children. The shootings add to high levels of gun violence continuing to claim lives across the country.